Aquarium hobbyists with do-it-yourself instincts and aptitudes will learn how to go directly to streams and brooks to find fish for their home tanks. The book includes information on setting up a tank and bringing the fish home safely, plus feeding, diseases, and home breeding. More than 80 fish species are highlighted. 100+ color photos.

Aquarium species native to America.

The darters are a fascinating group of colorful and diminutive freshwater fish whose beauty rivals that of the tropical reef fishes. Native only to North America, the darters occur widely, especially in the United States, but are little known to the general public, largely because of their small size—few exceed six inches and some measure a mere one inch at maturity. This book is the first comprehensive guide to the darters, covering all named and several undescribed forms—140 species in all. Each species account includes a synoptic description to aid in separation of similar species and subspecies, a range map, and discussion of the species' distribution, natural heritage, abundance, and scientific name. An illustrated key and glossary will further assist scientists, students, fishermen, and aquarium specialists in identifying darter species. Central to this volume is the series of 144 handsome color photographs illustrating nearly all known darter species and several subspecies. Most of the specimens shown were caught by the authors at sites throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and photographed by them on site using a recently developed technique that captures the full brilliance of the living fish. Because of their importance as indicators of environmental quality, the darters are receiving increasing attention today from scientists and naturalists. Public interest was focused recently on the plight of the snail darter, but many other darter species are either threatened or endangered, and others face an uncertain future as human activities continue to degrade our waterways. All those with an interest in preserving the natural heritage of our rivers and streams will find this comprehensive guide to the darters an invaluable tool.

This report provides species accounts for all known nonindigenous fishes in inland, open waters of the United States on record at the U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division's laboratory in Gainesville, Florida (USGS/BRD-G). Online access to the dataset is available on the Internet at http://nas.er.usgs.gov.

This is a field guide with a plus: It not only tells how to identify the common freshwater fishes of North America, it also tells how to collect them and keep them in a home aquarium. It includes the fishes you are most likely to see or catch in any lake or stream in North America, from the Longnose Gar and Northern Pike to the Rosyside Dace and Ninespine Stickleback. Important features are: 113 species in 22 families -- trouts, minnows, sunfishes, perches, catfishes, killifishes, and many othrs, with an emphasis on fishes that are suitable for aquarium life. 119 beautiful four-color illustratoins by Peter Thompson -- at least one illustration for each species. Clear, lively descriptions of each species and family, telling how to recognize them, where and when to find them, how to collect and keep them in an aquarium or fish pool, what to feed them, how to breed them, and interesting facts about habitat, life cycle, natural history, and local names. Range maps showing the North American distribution of each species.

An educational and entertaining book that introduces children to a wide variety of fish and other aquatic life in the rivers, streams and ponds of North America. Encourages an appreciation of fish and an understanding of their habitats. Details how to set up a home aquarium and how to stock it. Contains tips on equipment, the best species of fish and plant life and how to catch them. Features a slew of illustrations; ideas for field trips and activities that teach fish behavior.